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VENTING SANITARY
INBOARD
Issue 261, April 2016
OUR CREED:
“To perpetuate the
memory of our shipmates
who gave their lives in
pursuit of their duties
while serving their
country. That their
dedication, deeds, and
supreme sacrifice be a
constant source of
motivation toward
greater accomplishments.
Pledge loyalty and
patriotism to the United
States of America and
its Constitution.”
COMMANDER’S LOG
FORWARD BATTERY
BASE COMMANDER
George Hudson
503.843.2082
[email protected]
VICE COMMANDER
Jay Agler
503.771.1774
SECRETARY
Dennis Smith
503.981.4051
TREASURER
Mike Worden
503.708.8714
CHAPLAIN/NOMINATION
COMMITTEE CHAIR
Scott Duncan
503.667.0728
CHIEF OF THE BOAT
Arlo Gatchel
503.771.0540
WAYS & MEANS OFFICER
Vacant
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR/SMALL
STORES BOSS
Dave Vrooman
503.466.0379
PUBLICITY & SOCIAL CHAIR
Gary Schultz, Jr.
503.666.6125
USS Holland (SS-1)
On April 11th the U.S. Submarine Service will be 116 years old. Please come and
celebrate with us at the Claim Jumper Restaurant in Tualatin on Saturday, April 9 th. The
festivities begin at 1100 hours with a short, informal meeting. We will be swearing in our
new Blueback Base Secretary, Bill Long and inducting Jack Dent into the Holland Club.
We will also raffle off a signed copy of Rick Campbell’s submarine novel, “Empire
Rising.” I read this book and it is one of those action novels you can’t put down. The
book is about Communist China invading Taiwan and taking over the Western Pacific,
and we all know that could never happen… NOT! The author also sent us a bunch of
his “koozies,” whatever the heck they are. I’ve heard of cooties, but not koozies!
(See “Commander’s Log,” Page 9)
BYLAWS CHAIR/PAST BASE
COMMANDER
Ray Lough
360.573.4274
TRUSTEE
Gary Webb
503.632.6259
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Alan Brodie
360.247.6640
HISTORIAN/POC/ALLAROUND GOOD GUY
Bob Walters
503.284.8693
ON
N ET
TE
ER
RN
NA
AL
L PA
AT
TR
RO
OL
L:
BOATS LOST IN THE MONTH OF APRIL
USS Pickerel (SS-177)
Class: Porpoise Class
Launched: 7 July 1936
Commissioned: 26 January 1937
Builder: Electric Boat Company,
Groton, Connecticut
Length: 300’ 6”
Beam: 25’ 1”
Lost on 3 April 1943
74 Men Lost
On 12 April, Snook was ordered to take lifeguard station in the
vicinity of Sakishima Gunto in support of British carrier air strikes. On
20 April, the commander of the British carrier task force reported
that he had a plane down in Snook's assigned area, and that he
could not contact the submarine by radio. Snook was ordered to
search the area and to acknowledge the order. When she failed
to make a transmission, submarine Bang (SS-385) was sent to make
the search and rendezvous with Snook.
Pickerel departed Pearl Harbor on 18 March 1943 on her seventh
war patrol and, after topping off with fuel and provisions at
Midway Island on 22 March, headed for the eastern coast of
northern Honshū, Japan. She was never heard from again.
Pickerel was the first submarine to be lost in the Central Pacific
area and was stricken from the Naval Register on 19 August 1943.
Post-war analysis of Japanese records gives conflicting suggestions
about Pickerel’s fate. The Japanese officially credit her with
sinking Submarine Chaser Number 13 on 3 April and Fukuei Maru
on 7 April while giving no official report of her destruction. Those
records also describe an action off Shiramuka Lighthouse on
northern Honshū on 3 April 1943 in which naval aircraft first
bombed an unidentified submarine, then directed Shiragami and
Bunzan Maru to the boat’s location, where they dropped twentysix depth charges. A large quantity of oil floated to the surface,
which was often enough for Japanese ASW ships to believe their
target was sunk. But on 7 April a cargo ship was sunk in Pickerel’s
operation area; there were no other American subs in the vicinity
and she was awarded the kill during post-war reckoning.
It is possible that the oil tanks aboard Pickerel, a relatively old boat
commissioned in 1937, leaked, expelling the oil the Japanese saw
on the surface after the attack in the first days of April but not
indicating the boat’s demise. It is also possible that the dates listed
in the records were wrong, or that Pickerel was a victim of one of
the several other anti-submarine attacks the Japanese launched
in her area during the time period. Still others have argued that the
boat may have been sunk by one of the many mines the
Japanese had placed in the waters around Honshu.
Pickerel received three battle stars for her World War II service.
Although Bang arrived and rescued the downed aviators, she saw
no sign of the missing submarine and on 16 May, Snook was
presumed lost due to unknown causes. It is believed that she was
sunk by kaibokans Okinawa, CD-8, CD-32 and CD-52. It has also
been suggested that Snook may have been lost in combat with
one of five Japanese submarines which were also lost in April–May
1945. One candidate is Japanese submarine I-56.
Snook was credited with sinking 17 enemy vessels in her two and
one-half years of active service. She earned seven battle stars for
her service during World War II.
USS Thresher (SSN-593)
Class: Permit Class
Launched: 9 July 1960
Commissioned: 3 August 1961
Builder: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard,
Kittery, Maine
Length: 279’ 0”
Beam: 32’ 0”
Lost on 10 April 1963
129 Men Lost
When it was designed and built Thresher was the most advanced
attack submarine of its time: it was faster (with the exception of
the USS Skipjack (SSN-585) class) and quieter than any submarine
ever built, and able to dive deeper than any submarine in the
world. SSN 593 was considered the most advanced weapons
system of its day, created specifically to seek out and destroy
Soviet submarines. Its new sonar (both passive and active) was
able to detect other submarines and ships at greater range, and it
was intended to launch the U.S. Navy's newest anti-submarine
missile, SUBROC.
On 9 April 1963 Thresher got underway from Portsmouth at 0800
and rendezvoused with the submarine rescue ship Skylark at 1100
to begin its initial post-overhaul dive trials in an area some 190 nmi
(220 mi; 350 km) east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. That afternoon
Thresher conducted an initial trim dive test, surfaced and then
performed a second dive to half test depth. It remained
submerged overnight and re-established underwater
communications with Skylark at 0630 on the 10th to commence
deep-dive trials. Following standard practice, Thresher slowly dived
deeper as it traveled in circles under Skylark – to remain within
communications distance – pausing every additional 100 feet of
depth to check the integrity of all systems.
USS Snook (SS-279)
Class: Gato Class
Launched: 15 August 1942
Commissioned: 24 October 1942
Builder: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard,
Kittery, Maine
Length: 311’ 9”
Beam: 27’ 3”
Lost on 8 April 1945
84 Men Lost
Snook was lost while conducting her ninth war patrol in the South
China Sea and Luzon Strait. On 8 April 1945, she reported her
position to submarine Tigrone (SS-419); when she did not
acknowledge messages sent from Tigrone the next day, it was
presumed that she had headed toward Luzon Strait.
As Thresher neared her test depth, Skylark received garbled
communications over underwater telephone indicating "... minor
difficulties, have positive up-angle, attempting to blow;” and then
(See “Boats Lost in the Month of April,” Page 3)
Venting Sanitary Inboard – Page 2
BOATS LOST IN THE MONTH OF APRIL
(Continued From Page 2)
a final even more garbled message that included the number
"900." When Skylark received no further communication, surface
observers gradually realized Thresher had sunk.
By mid-afternoon a total of 15 Navy ships were enroute to the
search area. At 1830, the Commander Submarine Force Atlantic
sent word to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to begin notifying next-ofkin that Thresher was "missing." By morning the next day all hope of
finding Thresher was abandoned and at 1030 the Chief of Naval
Operations went before the press corps at the Pentagon to
announce that the submarine was lost with all hands.
President John F. Kennedy ordered all flags to be flown at half-staff
on 12–15 April in honor of the 112 lost submariners and 17 civilian
shipyard personnel lost.
USS Gudgeon (SS-211)
Class: Tambor Class
Launched: 25 January 1941
Commissioned: 21 April 1941
Builder: Mare Island Naval Shipyard,
Vallejo, California
Length: 307’ 2”
Beam: 27’ 3”
Lost on 18 April 1944
81 Men Lost
USS Grenadier (SS-210)
Class: Tambor Class
Launched: 29 November 1940
Commissioned: 1 May 1941
Builder: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard,
Kittery, Maine
Length: 307’ 2”
Beam: 27’ 3”
Lost on 22 April 1943
No Loss of Life
Grenadier departed Australia on 20 March 1943 on her last war
patrol and headed for the Strait of Malacca, gateway between
the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Patrolling along the Malay and Thai
coasts, Grenadier claimed a small freighter off the island of Phuket
on 6 April. She remained in the area and late in the night of 20 April
sighted two merchantmen and closed in for the attack.
Running on the surface at dawn 21 April, Grenadier spotted, and
was simultaneously spotted by, a Japanese plane. The submarine
dived, and as it passed 130 feet (40 m) her executive officer
commented, "We ought to be safe now." Just then, explosions
rocked Grenadier and heeled her over 15 to 20 degrees. Power
and lights failed completely and the fatally wounded ship settled to
the bottom at 270 feet (82 m). She tried to make repairs while a
fierce fire blazed in the maneuvering room.
Armed with the pride borne of her successes on eleven previous
war patrols, Gudgeon, under Lt. Cdr. R. A. Bonin, sailed from Pearl
Harbor on 4 April 1944 to conduct her twelfth patrol in an open sea
area in the northern Marianas. She left Johnston Island on 7 April
1944, after having topped off with fuel, and was never heard from
again.
Originally scheduled to leave her area on 16 May, she was ordered
on 11 May to depart her area in time to take station for a special
assignment. An acknowledgement for this message was required
and when none was received, it was asked for again on 12 May.
On 14 May her special assignment was given to another submarine,
and Gudgeon was told to return to Midway. She should have
arrived at Midway about 23 May but failed to do so and on 7 June
she was reported as presumed lost.
Gudgeon was probably lost on 18 April 1944 after being bombed
by Japanese naval aircraft of the 901st Air Group about 166 miles
southeast of Iwo Jima. The Japanese report stated the planes
dropped two bombs on a submarine and "…the first bomb hit a
bow, the second bomb direct on bridge. The center of the
submarine burst open and oil pillars rose." The submarine was
reported to have sunk quickly followed by a large undersea
explosion. The reported location of the attack (22° 45' N, 143° 40' E)
was within the Gudgeon's assigned patrol area. Loss as a result of
an unreported enemy attack is also a possibility.
After 13 hours on the bottom Grenadier managed to surface after
dark to inspect for damage. The damage to her propulsion system
was irreparable, and the commanding officer attempted to bring
her closer to shore so that the crew could scuttle her. But as dawn
broke on 22 April, Grenadier's weary crew sighted two Japanese
ships heading for them. The skipper "didn't think it advisable to
make a stationary dive in 280 feet of water without power," and the
crew began burning confidential documents prior to abandoning
ship. A Japanese plane attacked the stricken submarine, but
Grenadier, though dead in the water and to all appearances
helpless, blazed away with her machine guns. She hit the plane on
its second pass. As the damaged plane veered off, its torpedo
landed about 200 yards from the boat and exploded.
A Japanese merchantman picked up eight officers and 68 enlisted
men and took them to Penang, Malay States, where they were
questioned, beaten, and starved before being sent to other prison
camps. Four of Grenadier’s crew members died as Prisoners-ofWar.
Grenadier was awarded four battle stars for her service in World
War II.
During her three-year career, Gudgeon scored 14 confirmed kills for
a total of well over 71,372 tons sunk, placing her 15th on the honor
roll of American submarines. She was also the first U.S. Navy
submarine to sink an enemy warship in World War II (the Japanese
submarine I-73).
For her first eight war patrols Gudgeon received the Presidential Unit
Citation. She earned 11 battle stars for her World War II service.
Venting Sanitary Inboard – Page 3
April 9 ............ Base Meeting/Submarine Birthday Ball Luncheon (1100, Claim Jumper Restaurant, Tualatin)
April 11 ...................................................................... 116th Birthday of the United States Navy Submarine Force
April 15 ........................................................................................................................................................... Tax Day
May 1-6 .......................................................................... USSVI Western Regional Roundup in Loughlin, Nevada
May 8 .................................................................................................................................................... Mother’s Day
May 12 .................... Base Meeting (1900 at VFW Post 4248, 7118 SE Fern St, Portland - No Chow this Month)
May 21 ........................................................................................................................................ Armed Forces Day
May 30 ................................................................................................................................................ Memorial Day
June 6.......................................................................................................................... Anniversary of D-Day (1944)
June 9............................ Base Meeting (1900 at VFW Post 4248, 7118 SE Fern St, Portland - Chow this Month)
June 14 ........................................................................................................................................................ Flag Day
June 19 .................................................................................................................................................. Father’s Day
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, U.S. NAVY SUBMARINE SERVICE
…Doing it deeper since 1900
Venting Sanitary Inboard – Page 4
BLUEBACK BASE MEETING MINUTES
10 March 2016
1730
E-Board Meeting called to order by Commander George Hudson. Members present were
Commander Hudson; Vice Commander Jay Agler; Secretary Dennis Smith; Treasurer Mike
Worden; and Trustee Gary Webb. Treasurer Mike Worden and Vice Commander Jay Agler will
talk with the VFW Post about paperwork for our records pertaining to the five-year prepaid rent
for our meeting space and storage locker. Bills were presented and ordered to be paid.
Commander Hudson’s POD was reviewed and discussed. Commander Hudson thanked
Treasurer Mike Worden for submitting the Annual Report to USSVI National in record time. The
meeting was adjourned at 1805.
1900
Base Meeting called to order by Base Commander George Hudson.
Invocation: Base Chaplain Scott Duncan
Flag Salute: Commander George Hudson
Tolling of Lost Boats: Vice Commander Jay Agler/Bill Bryan
Moment of Silence for Lost Shipmates
Reading of USSVI Purpose and Creed: Commander George Hudson
Introductions
Secretary’s Report: Base Secretary Dennis Smith
Treasurer’s Report: Base Treasurer Mike Worden
Commander’s Report: Commander Hudson informed the membership about Dallas Dolan’s
Memorial Service and internment.
Old Business:

Commander Hudson provided an update on the upcoming Base Picnic at Clackamette
Park. Parking may be somewhat limited due to equipment in the area for a construction
project. There is also the possibility of not having RV Park availability due to lack of a
Camp Host for the RV Park.

Base Treasurer Mike Worden let us know that he is collecting money for the Submarine
Birthday Lunch at the Claim Jumper Restaurant on Saturday, April 9th at 1100 in Tualatin.
Tickets will be $15.00 per person; Blueback Base will be paying the gratuity.

Base Treasurer Mike Worden issued an apology to the Blueback Base for a
misunderstanding about projects the Base undertakes with both volunteer time and
money. He thanked everyone for everything they do to help promote Blueback Base
and USSVI.
50/50 Break
Venting Sanitary Inboard – Page 5
BLUEBACK BASE MEETING MINUTES
(Continued from Page 5)
New Business:

Base Commander Hudson introduced our Guest Speaker for the evening, ET1(SS) Karl
Heckman. Karl spoke to us about his book, “Watertight: How I Survived the Submarine
Service without Losing My Mind.” Karl gave us a brief description of what his book is about. It
is a book about his life, seen through his eyes, and his enlistment in the U. S. nuclear submarine
Navy. Most of his time was spent on USS Seawolf (SSN-575) and USS Parche (SSN-683). Karl
gave us a brief overview of his life after the Navy, which is also very interesting. He delved
into the circumstances in his life leading up to the writing of the book. He read the preface to
the book and then hosted a question-and-answer session. A great speaker and author – well
worth the time! The book should be a good read. Karl is also the newest member of the
Blueback Base; welcome aboard!

Bill Long stepped up and volunteered to take over the Blueback Base Secretary
responsibilities. He was voted in to the office by all hands and will be installed officially at the
Submarine Birthday Luncheon in April.
Benediction: Base Chaplain Scott Duncan
Meeting Adjourned: 2005
Sailing List: Agler; Brodie; Bryan; Collins; Duncan; Heckman; Hudson; Huston; Jackson; Keffer; Long;
McLaughlin; Musa, Sandra; Musa, Bill; Smith; Stowe; Sumner; Thrall; Vrooman; Walters; Webb; Worden
Respectfully submitted,
Dennis Smith
Dennis Smith
Secretary
Blueback Base
USSVI DUES
Annual Membership
One-Year Term
Three-Year Term
Five-Year Term
National
$25
$70
$115
Blueback Base
$15
$45
$75
Life Membership
Age 45 and Under
Age 46-55
Age 56-65
Age 66-75
Age 76 and older
National
$500
$400
$300
$200
$100
Blueback Base
$300
$250
$200
$150
$50
Venting Sanitary Inboard – Page 6
THIS MONTH IN
SILENT SERVICE HISTORY
April 1, 1943 - USS Shad (SS 235) torpedoes and damages
the Italian blockade runner Pietro Orseolo, shortly after
the Italian ship reaches the Bay of Biscay and her escort
of four German destroyers.
April 2, 1943 - USS Tunny (SS 282) sinks the Japanese
transport No.2 Toyo Maru west of Truk.
April 3, 1943 - USS Haddock (SS 231) sinks Japanese fleet
tanker Arima Maru north of Palau, and USS Pickerel (SS
177) sinks the Japanese submarine chaser Ch 1.
April 4, 1943 - USS Porpoise (SS 172) sinks the Japanese
whaling ship Koa Maru near Eniwetok.
April 7, 1979 - USS Ohio (SSBN 726), the first Trident
submarine, launches at Groton, Connecticut. She is
commissioned into the Navy in November that same
year.
April 8, 1944 - USS Seahorse (SS 304) and USS Trigger (SS
237) successfully attack a Japanese convoy off Guam,
damaging a Japanese destroyer and a tanker.
April 10, 1942 - USS Thresher (SS 200) torpedoes and sinks
Japanese merchant cargo ship Maru six miles north of
Oshima, near the entrance to Tokyo Bay, Honshu, Japan.
April 10, 1963 - During diving tests, USS Thresher (SSN 593)
is lost with all hands east of Cape Cod, Mass., including
17 civilian shipyard engineers.
April 11, 1900 – The U.S. government purchases USS
Holland (SS-1), the Navy’s first modern commissioned
submarine for $150,000, and the “Silent Service” is born.
April 12, 1944 - USS Halibut (SS 232) sinks Japanese army
passenger/cargo ship Taichu Maru despite the presence
of at least three escort vessels.
April 13, 1942 - USS Grayling (SS 209) sinks the Japanese
freighter Ryujin Maru off the southeast tip of Shikoku,
Japan.
April 13, 1944 - USS Harder (SS 257) sinks the Japanese
destroyer Ikazuchi, 180 miles SSW of Guam.
April 14, 1945 - USS Tirante (SS 240), commanded by Lt.
Cmdr. George L. Street III, attacks a Japanese convoy in
the approaches to the Yellow Sea and sinks a transport
ship and two vessels. Street earns the Medal of Honor for
his actions.
April 16, 1942 - USS Tambor (SS 198) sinks the Japanese
stores ship Kitami Maru 50 miles southeast of Kavieng,
New Ireland.
April 17, 1942 - USS Searaven (SS 196) begins rescue of
stranded Australian sailors, airmen, and soldiers from
Japanese-occupied Timor.
April 20, 1944 - USS Seahorse (SS 304) torpedoes and sinks
Japanese submarine RO 45 off the Mariana Islands.
April 20, 1964 - USS Henry Clay (SSBN 625) launches a
Polaris A-2 missile in the first demonstration to show that
Polaris submarines could launch missiles from the surface
as well as from beneath the ocean.
April 22, 1945 - USS Hardhead (SS 365) sinks Japanese
cargo vessel Mankei Maru off Chimpson and USS Cero (SS
225) sinks the Japanese guardboat Aji Maru west of Tori
Jima and damages the guardboat No. 9 Takamiya Maru.
April 23, 1943 - USS Seawolf (SS 197) sinks Japanese Patrol
Boat #39 off the east central coast of Formosa while the
enemy warship is screening the towing of the wrecked
Nisshin Maru.
April 23, 1945 - USS Besugo (SS 321) sinks the German
submarine U-183 in the Java Sea.
April 25, 1944 - USS Crevalle (SS 291) sinks Japanese army
cargo ship Kashiwa Maru north of Borneo and USS
Guvania (SS 362) sinks Japanese army cargo ship Tetsuyo
Maru, northwest of Chichi Jima.
(See “This Month in Silent Service History,” Page 8)
Venting Sanitary Inboard – Page 7
THIS MONTH IN SILENT
SERVICE HISTORY
(Continued from Page 7)
April 26, 1960 - USS George Washington (SSN 598)
conducts a Polaris missile test firing in Long Island Sound
in the Atlantic Ocean.
April 27, 1944 - USS Bluegill (SS 242) torpedoes the
Japanese light cruiser Yubari west of Sonsorol Island,
while USS Halibut (SS 232) sinks Japanese minelayer off
Okinawa.
April 28, 1945 - USS Sennet (SS 408) sinks the Japanese
cable layer Hatsushima off Kii Strait, south southeast of
Miki Saki; USS Springer (SS 414) sinks the Japanese
submarine chaser Ch. 17 west of Kyushu as she is
escorting landing ship T-146; and USS Trepang (SS 412)
sinks T-146 off Ose Saki, Japan.
April 28, 1945 - USS Sennet (SS 408) sinks the Japanese
cable layer Hatsushima off Kii Strait, south southeast of
Miki Saki; USS Springer (SS 414) sinks the Japanese
submarine chaser Ch. 17 west of Kyushu as she is
escorting landing ship T-146; and USS Trepang (SS 412)
sinks T-146 off Ose Saki, Japan.
April 29, 1944 - USS Pogy (SS 266) sinks the Japanese
submarine I-183, 30 miles south of Ashizuri Saki, Japan.
April 29, 1945 - USS Bream (SS 243) sinks the German
minesweeper depot ship Quito off Tanjong Putting,
Borneo.
From Humble Beginnings…
The Birth of the U.S. Navy Submarine Service
USS Holland (SS-1) was the United States
Navy's first modern commissioned
submarine (although not the first military
submarine of the United States, which
was the 1775 submersible Turtle). The
boat was originally laid down as Holland
VI, and launched on 17 May 1897.
running on the surface and an electric
motor for submerged operation. She
had a reloadable 18 inch (457 mm)
torpedo tube and an 8.4 inch (210 mm)
pneumatic dynamite gun in the bow (the
dynamite gun's projectiles were called
"aerial torpedoes"). A second dynamite
gun in the stern was removed in 1900,
prior to delivery to the Navy. There was a
type. The United States government soon
ordered more submarines from Holland's
company, which were to be known as
the Plunger class. These became
America's first fleet of underwater naval
vessels.
Holland VI was modified after her
The work was done at Retired Navy
christening, and was renamed USS
Lieutenant Lewis
Holland (SS-1) when
Nixon's Crescent
she was commisShipyard of Elizabeth,
sioned by the US
New Jersey for John
Navy on 12
Holland's Holland
October 1900 at
Torpedo Boat
Newport, Rhode
Company, which
Island, Lieutenant
became the Electric
Harry H. Caldwell in
Boat Company in
command.
1899. The craft was
built under the
Holland was the first
supervision of John
commissioned
Philip Holland, who
submarine in the US
designed the vessel
Navy and is the first
and her details. The
of the unbroken line
keel to this craft was
of submarines in the
laid at Nixon's
Navy. She was the
Crescent Shipyard
third submarine to
with both men
be owned by the
USS Holland (SS-1), the first modern commissioned submarine of the United States Navy Navy, however.
present. The two
men worked together
(The first submarine
conning tower from which the boat and
using many of John Holland's proven
was Propeller (also known as Alligator)
her weapons could be directed. Finally,
concepts and patents to make the
and the second was Intelligent Whale.)
she had all the necessary ballast and trim
submarine a reality, each man
tanks to make precise changes in depth
complementing the other's contributions
On 16 October 1900, in order to be kept
and attitude underwater.
to the development of the modern
serviceable throughout the winter,
submarine.
Holland left Newport under tow of the
Holland VI eventually proved her validity
tug Leyden for Annapolis, Maryland,
and worthiness as a warship and was
Holland VI included many features that
where she was used to train midshipmen
ultimately purchased by the U.S.
submarines of the early 20th century
of the United States Naval Academy, as
government for the sum of $150,000 on
would exhibit, albeit in later, more
well as officers and enlisted men ordered
11 April 1900, and the Navy’s Submarine
advanced forms. She had both an
there to receive training vital in preparing
Service was born. She was considered to
internal combustion engine (specifically,
be the first truly successful craft of her
(See “From Humble Beginnings,” Page 9)
a 4-stroke Otto gasoline engine) for
Venting Sanitary Inboard – Page 8
From Humble Beginnings
(Continued from Page 8)
for the operation of other submarines
being built for the Fleet.
Holland proved valuable for
experimental purposes in collecting data
for submarines under construction or
contemplation. Her 166 mi (267 km)
surface run from Annapolis to Norfolk,
Virginia from 8–10 January 1901 provided
useful data on her performance
underway over an extended period.
Holland (briefly) and five Plunger-class
Holland-type submarines were based in
New Suffolk, New York on the North Fork
of Long Island from 1899 to 1905,
prompting the hamlet to claim to be the
first submarine base in the United States.
Except for the period from 15 June to 1
October 1901 (which was passed training
cadets at the Naval Torpedo Station,
Newport, Rhode Island), Holland
remained at Annapolis as a training
submarine until 17 July 1905, when she
was decommissioned.
Holland finished her career at Norfolk,
Virginia. Her name was struck from the
Naval Vessel Register on 21 November
1910. This revolutionary submarine was
sold as scrap to Henry A. Hitner & Sons of
Philadelphia on 18 June 1913 for $100.
Her purchaser was required to put up
$5,000 bond as assurance that the
submarine would be broken up and not
used as a ship.
Sometime in 1915 the hulk of the Holland,
stripped of her external fittings, was sold
to Peter J. Gibbons. In October 1916
she was on display in Philadelphia; in
May 1917 she was moved to the Bronx,
New York as a featured attraction at
the Bronx International Exposition of
Science, Arts and Industries.
Holland was on display for several
years in Paterson, New Jersey until she
was finally scrapped in 1932.
The success of the submarine was
instrumental in the founding of the
Electric Boat Company, now known as
the Electric Boat Division of General
Dynamics Corporation. Electric Boat,
then, can directly trace its origins to the
formation of John Philip Holland's original
torpedo boat company and the
revolutionary submarines that were
originally developed at this shipyard.
John Philip Holland
1841-1914
Inventor of the modern submarine
COMMANDER’S LOG
(Continued from Page 1)
Clackamette Park Campground
Host Needed:
We have hosted our annual summer picnic at
Clackamette Park in Oregon City, and some of
our base members like to arrive early to camp
at the RV Park. Unfortunately, the RV Park is
closed this year because the city has no Camp
Host.
If you know of anyone who wants to camp
along the Willamette River in exchange for a
little work, please have them contact the
Oregon City Parks and Recreation
Department.
Eagle Scout Recognitions:
In March, the Blueback Base presented USSVI
recognition certificates and patches to three
Boy Scouts in the Beaverton area who have
achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. The scouts
are Chad Roberts, Ian Bake and Adam
LaFountain.
Fraternally,
George
George Hudson
Base Commander
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PCU WASHINGTON CHRISTENED IN NEWPORT NEWS
Lance M. Bacon | Navy Times | Mar 5, 2016
NEWPORT NEWS, VA — On Saturday,
March 5th the Navy christened PCU
Washington, the 14th Virginia-class attack
submarine. Construction began on the
future SSN 787 — also the fourth Virginiaclass Block III submarine — in 2011. The
keel was laid 16 months ago, and
commissioning is set for 2017.
Ray Mabus, who is nearing the end of his
tenure as Secretary of the Navy, was on
hand to congratulate ship builders for the
“technological marvel," which has
improved stealth and
sophisticated
surveillance
capabilities. A
redesigned bow
features a waterbacked Large
Aperture Bow sonar
array, and two Virginia
Payload Tubes are
each capable of
launching six
Tomahawk cruise
missiles. The sub is
capable of Special
Forces delivery, mine
delivery and minefield
mapping. While such
technology gives the
Navy a powerful
edge, Mabus was
quick to identify its
crew, which stood in
formation between
him and the sub, as
providing
Washington's true
edge.
right time, [but] at the right place all the
time," he said. Mabus said the ability to
provide presence rests on four elements:
the people who crew, the platforms they
man, the power they carry and
partnerships with allies and industry.
A bottle of American sparkling wine was
then dipped in water from Puget Sound
before it was broken across the ship's bow
by Elisabeth Mabus, the ship's sponsor and
oldest of the Navy secretary's three
daughters. Her sister, Annie, is sponsor of
To date, 12 Virginia-class submarines have
been delivered, 11 are in construction and
five are under contract. Virginia-class
submarines weigh 7,800 tons, are 377 feet
long, have a 34-foot beam, and can
operate at more than 25 knots
submerged. The reactor plant does not
require refueling during the planned life of
the ship.
Washington will be the third Navy ship to
be named in honor of the 42nd state. The
last, a World War II battleship, was
decommissioned in
1947, but she was a
pioneer in her seven
years of service. BB-56
was the first ship
equipped with a fully
operational radar, and
has the distinction of
being the only
battleship to sink an
enemy battleship in
one-on-one surface
combat. The
battleship earned 13
battle stars, was never
hit and never lost a
single crew member.
Ship’s Sponsor Elisabeth Mabus christens PCU Washington on March 5, 2016
Vice Adm. Joe Tofalo,
Commander of
the next attack sub, Colorado. Youngest
Submarine Forces, told the crew it would
daughter, Kate, will sponsor the attack sub
operate in the most challenging
Utah, Mabus told Navy Times after the
environments on Earth, "on scene,
ceremony.
unseen." Combatant commanders are
asking for more submarines, he said, and
Shipbuilding has been a hallmark of
the proliferation of anti-access/area
Mabus' seven-year tenure. The Navy had
denial systems will only increase this
316 ships when terrorists attacked on Sept.
responsibility. Subs such as Washington
are the "key that unlocks the door, thereby 11, 2001. In the next seven years, the Navy
built 41 ships but watched its armada
significantly enabling a greater naval and
shrink to 278 ships. The Navy will have
joint force."
contracted 84 ships under Mabus' watch,
while ship production increased from
In the shadow of the sub and its sailors,
fewer than five ships per year to an
Mabus reflected on the founding fathers,
average of 14. His biggest contract came
who in drafting the Constitution gave
in 2014 when the Navy allocated $18
Congress the authority to raise an army,
billion in a bulk buy of ten subs.
but mandated that it provide and
maintain the Navy. That "not-so subtle
difference" recognizes the need for naval
presence "not just at the right place at the
"It's like having one of those punch cards:
Buy nine, get one free," Mabus joked.
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"It's been 70 years
since the USS
Washington was
decommissioned,"
Mabus said. "It's time
for a new USS
Washington, this great
submarine, to carry on
the legacy of the state
of Washington, and
the ships that bore her
name."
For the Good of the Order
Bill Long has graciously volunteered to assume the duties as Base Secretary from incumbent Dennis Smith. Bill will be
sworn in at the April Base Meeting/Submarine Birthday Luncheon on Saturday, April 9th. Heartfelt thanks go out to
Dennis who throughout his tenure served with great distinction as a key member of our leadership team; his efforts
have been instrumental in securing Blueback Base’s reputation as “The Best in the West.” BRAVO ZULU!
The Base is still actively seeking volunteers to fill the following positions:

Base Treasurer (Backup); to serve as backup and provide support as necessary to current Treasurer Mike Worden.
Although the individual serving as backup to the Treasurer is not technically a member of the Executive Board,
Article IX, Section 4 of the Blueback Base Constitution and Bylaws provides a detailed description of the Treasurer’s
duties and responsibilities.

Ways and Means Officer; this is an Executive Board position. For a detailed description of the duties and
responsibilities of the Ways and Means Officer, see the Blueback Base Constitution and Bylaws, Article IX, Section 7.
In honor of the 116th Birthday of
The United States Submarine Service,
The Commander, United States Submarine Veterans, Inc., Blueback Base
Requests the pleasure of your company
at a Celebratory Luncheon
On Saturday, April the ninth
Two thousand sixteen
At eleven hundred hours
At the
Claim Jumper Restaurant
18000 Lower Boones Ferry Road
Tualatin, Oregon
Tickets are available for $15.00 per person
And may be purchased on the day of the event
Please make payment in cash
Or by personal check made payable to
USSVI Blueback Base
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